- ECO code
- C55
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7
- Family
- Italian Game
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 388
- Average game length
- 48 moves
- Years covered
- 1946–2026
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening is the opening filed under ECO code C55, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7. It belongs to the Italian Game family and is known as the Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 388 games on this line — the 253rd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1946 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 303 games. An average game here lasts 48 moves.
White wins 35% of those games, 38% end in a draw, and Black wins 27%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 5.O-O, played in 282 games, followed by 5.Nc3 (83) and 5.c3 (7). After 5.O-O White scores 38% and Black 25%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Firouzja,Alireza (26 games); on the Black side, Giri,A (33).
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 35% (137)
- Draws 38% (145)
- Black 27% (106)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.O-O | 282 | 38/37/25 | — |
| 5.Nc3 | 83 | 28/39/33 | — |
| 5.c3 | 7 | 29/14/57 | — |
| 5.a4 | 6 | 17/17/66 | — |
| 5.Bb3 | 6 | 50/50/0 | — |
| 5.Nbd2 | 3 | 67/33/0 | — |
| 5.h3 | 1 | 0/100/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 e5 · 24,632 games
- King's Knight Opening · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 · 21,895 games
- King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 · 19,295 games
- Italian Game · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · 4,424 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 · 1,656 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 · 1,354 games
Played most often by
As White
- Firouzja,Alireza 26
- Niemann,Hans Moke 25
- So,W 22
As Black
- Giri,A 33
- Carlsen,M 30
- Caruana,F 29
Games per decade
- 1940s 1
- 1970s 1
- 1980s 4
- 1990s 14
- 2000s 21
- 2010s 44
- 2020s 303
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevian,Samuel | Caruana,F | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 27th Jan 2026 |
| Niemann,Hans Moke | So,W | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| Wei Yi | Lazavik,Denis | 1-0 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Final |
| Aravindh,Chithambaram VR. | Aronian,L | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Final |
| Ding Liren | Artemiev,V | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Final |
| Huang,Renjie | Giri,A | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Final |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening?
It is the opening with ECO code C55, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7. It belongs to the Italian Game family.
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening good for White or for Black?
In 388 master games on this line White wins 35%, 38% are drawn and Black wins 27%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening?
5.O-O — played in 282 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening?
On the White side Firouzja,Alireza (26), Niemann,Hans Moke (25), So,W (22); on the Black side Giri,A (33), Carlsen,M (30), Caruana,F (29).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
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